Starting with my second time voting in an election, I have used accessible voting machines every election to cast my ballot privately, independently, and accurately as an individual with low vision that cannot see the traditional ballot— the only reason I didn’t use it when I voted for the first time is because I had no idea it existed. Here is how I use accessible voting machines with low vision, based on my experiences voting in primary, local, state, and federal elections in the Commonwealth of Virginia with the ExpressVote machine.
Overview of accessible voting machines
Accessible voting machines are an electronic tool that empower people with disabilities to vote using assistive technology, with multiple accessibility features that make it possible for individuals to cast their vote independently. Instead of marking on paper ballots, these machines incorporate options such as a touch screen menu or other alternative input options such as tactile buttons or switch access.
By law, at least one accessible voting machine must be available at all polling places and for all types of elections/ballots, including local, state, and federal ballots. Accessible voting machines are also available for early voting.
While I use the term accessible voting machine for this post, these terms may also be used to refer to these machines:
- Accessible voting
- ADA voting machine
- Audio voting
- Braille voting (while the machine doesn’t have a refreshable braille display, there are braille and tactile labels)
- Disability voting machine
- Electronic voting machine
- Express vote/ExpressVote (the term Express vote is used to refer to accessible voting machines here in Virginia).
- Large print ballot machine
- Talking voting machine
- Universal voting machine
- Voting machine for the blind
While accessible voting machines are frequently associated with visual impairment access (inclusive of blind/low vision), the accessibility features are useful for anyone who has a print disability or another disability that impacts their ability to read or write. This can be especially helpful for voting with tremors or difficulties with fine motor control.
Related links
- A to Z of Assistive Technology For Low Vision
- US Government Programs For Blind/Low Vision Residents
- Services Provided By State Department/State Unit for Visual Impairment
Comparing accessible voting machines to other options
Using an accessible voting machine is not the only option for voting with a disability, but it is the one I personally prefer to use. Other options for voting with a visual impairment may include:
Requesting a magnification aid for voting
Many polling places offer a transparent magnification sheet or magnifying glass that provides 2x magnification for the paper ballots, and requires the user to hold the magnification aid with one hand and indicate their vote with the other hand. Check with the state voting regulations office to determine if voters can bring their own magnification aid to the polls— video magnifiers and phones are often not permitted since they can capture images.
Voting with an assistant
Another option for accessible in-person voting is to vote with an assistant, either an election official or someone accompanying the person with a disability. The assistant will need to fill out forms in order to be allowed to read the ballot out loud, as well as cast the vote indicated by the voter with a disability by hand. This can be done inside the polling place, or with curbside voting.
It is illegal for an assistant to change the individual’s vote or convince them to vote for someone else. However, I personally feel uncomfortable using this option because I have no way of verifying what my assistant marks on the ballot.
Accessible absentee voting by mail
Absentee ballots delivered by mail can be accessed with assistive technology within an individual’s home environment— for example, I could use my desktop video magnifier to enlarge the ballot or other materials and cast my vote at home before mailing my ballot. To be eligible for absentee voting in this scenario, individuals will need to indicate that they are print disabled or have a print disability, which is one of the categories listed on the absentee ballot request form.
Accessible absentee voting by email
Accessible absentee ballots delivered via email are designed to be used with screen reader technology. This is also known as using an electronic ballot-marking tool. The process for registering for absentee voting by email is similar to registering by mail, though individuals are required to mark that they would like to use the electronic ballot marking tool. For more information, individuals should contact their local general registrar.
Related links
How to request accessible voting machines
Accessible voting machines are available for early voting as well as on Election Day. Once a voter arrives at the polling place and shows their ID, they must request to use the accessible voting machine themselves. Election staff cannot offer individuals the option to use this machine, even if the individual is standing there with a blindness cane and tinted glasses (as I found out the first year I voted)— the individual must request to use the machine themselves.
Before I confirm my full name and address, I tell the person registering me “I need to use the ExpressVote machine” so I can confirm it’s working before signing in. Some polling places may require individuals to provide a “proof of disability” to use accessible voting machines, but I haven’t personally encountered this requirement. I recommend contacting the local general registrar for additional information if needed.
In my experience, the accessible voting machines are usually in the back of the polling place, resting on a table with a folding chair. Someone using a wheelchair could comfortably maneuver their chair under the table, or someone could also stand up while voting if desired.
Voting with low vision using accessible voting machines
Accessible voting machines offer different options for casting a vote in an election, including using large print, audio access, touch screen input, and keypad input. There are also options for using switch access or a sip-and-puff device, and I have linked video demonstrations of those options below.
Initial set-up for ExpressVote
After making a request to use ExpressVote, the staff members in charge of distributing ballots will need to provide the accessible ballot designed to be used with the accessible voting machines, which is fed into a slot in the machine. The ballots are kept in a separate location.
After inserting the ballot, users are asked to confirm the locality in which they are voting to ensure the correct candidates are displayed. This is typically done by a polling staff member, who then leaves the area.
The candidate order is the same order that is listed on the paper ballot, and no candidates are selected automatically. When relevant, political party affiliations are included next to the candidate names.
Locating the ExpressVote keypad (remote)
Users can cast their vote by selecting options on the touch screen or using the ExpressVote keypad, which is slightly smaller than a smartphone. This is a wired tactile keypad (remote) that can be used to make selections on the screen or move through different ballots, which can be used in lieu of or in addition to the touch screen.
I’ve shared an example of what the keypad looks like below, which includes color-coded buttons with different shapes, braille labels, and raised tactile details on the buttons themselves. These include:
- Four yellow triangle directional buttons arranged in a cross pattern. Buttons are labeled up, down, forward, and back. Up and down are used to navigate items listed on the ballot. Forward and back are used to move between different ballots.
- Blue square button labeled Select, which is in the center of the directional buttons. This is used to cast votes and confirm choices.
- White pentagon-shaped button labeled Home, which opens a screen with voting instructions.
- Blue hexagon-shaped button labeled Pause, which is used to play/pause speech output when audio access is enabled.
- Tactile vertical line that separates the directional controls on the left side of the keypad from the audio access controls on the right side.
- Black diamond-shaped button labeled Screen, which is used to darken the screen for privacy when audio access is enabled.
- Green circle-shaped button labeled Repeat, which repeats the last spoken phrase.
- Purple rectangle button with rounded edges labeled Tempo, which can be used to adjust audio speed. This will repeat the last spoken phrase.
- Orange rectangle button with straight edges labeled Volume, which can be used to adjust audio volume.
The keypad has a wired connection to the machine and a Velcro backing that attaches to the side of the machine when not in use.
Voting with audio access/text-to-speech
One option for using accessible voting machines is to use audio access, which will read all of the information on the screen out loud with text-to-speech. Audio access is turned on by connecting a pair of headphones, and pressing any button on the keypad. Users can also configure the tempo and volume for audio output from the keypad or when setting up audio access.
Audio access turn touch screen input off by default, so the user will need to use the keypad to cast their vote. When enabled, audio access provides narrated instructions for how to use the keypad and advance between different screens.
To ensure privacy, a screen curtain or privacy curtain can be turned on, which will black out the screen so that the user can vote nonvisually or without anyone looking at the screen. Alternatively, the screen can remain on and be used with large print or high contrast mode if a user prefers to listen and read text simultaneously.
To cast a vote with audio access, users navigate through listed options with the arrow keys on the keypad and press the select button to indicate their vote. Pressing the back/forward button will advance to the previous or next ballot/screen.
Voting with large print or digital text
In the large print view, each office/position is displayed one at a time on the screen, and no candidates are selected automatically. The candidate order is the same order that is listed on the paper ballot.
The screen can be configured to display information in a large print size, which is approximately 20-pt font. A high contrast mode can also be enabled that shows white text on a black background, which inverts the screen.
To cast their vote, users can tap on the screen or use the keypad (remote) to indicate their desired selection and press the back/next buttons on screen or on the keypad to move to the previous or next ballot/screen. Both the keypad and touch screen can be used to control the machine.
Review and print ballot
Users are provided with the option to review their votes in visual and/or audio formats before officially indicating their responses on the ballot. Once finished, users can select the forward button to confirm their votes, and may have to press the forward button a second time to print the ballot.
Cast ballot for voting
Just like the other ballots, accessible ballots are placed in the same counting area as other ballots and are fed into a machine that has tactile guides for positioning. The box/machine used for collecting ballots is not connected to the internet, just like the other accessible voting machines.
The collection box at my local precinct visually resembles a rolling garbage bin, so I was confused when I voted for the first time as I thought I was being directed to throw my vote in the trash! There are polling staff members on standby to help with locating the ballot box, though most individuals with low vision can insert the ballot into the machine with tactile guides independently and don’t have to hand over their ballot to someone else to do it for them.
Related links
- Sip and Puff demonstration: ExpressVote
- Express Vote Accessible Voting Machine (Embedded English Captions & ASL)
- ExpressVote Voting System | Fairfax County Government
- High Contrast and Low Vision
Summary of features available with accessible voting machines
- Large vertical touch screen for displaying ballots.
- Wired tactile keypad (remote) with raised shapes and braille labels, which can be used instead of the touch screen.
- Toggle high contrast display (dark mode) with white text on a black background.
- Toggle large print font size (zoom magnification), equivalent to size 20 pt font.
- Text-to-speech audio access for reading information on screen. This option requires headphones and the use of tactile keypad instead of the touch screen.
- Privacy curtain (screen curtain) that turns off display when audio access is enabled for privacy.
- Option to use rocker paddle or switch access as alternative input, which can be connected by a poll worker upon request. A personal device may be used, or a rocker paddle switch may be provided.
- Option to use personal sip-and-puff device as alternative input, which can be connected by a poll worker upon request.
Published February 17, 2020. Updated June 2025